Gobernanza digital en Costa Rica: un análisis de propuestas

This article aims to provide a comprehensive look at recent proposals of digital governance in Costa Rica, from its institutional design, specifically regarding the ruling entity of the sector. This will be achieved through a documentary review, as well as following a process-tracing method. Then, the article will focus on presenting the national experience with respect of that of the international benchmarks on the subject. Conclusively, it will provide a series of recommendations from the best practices observed in successful institutions in the field of digital Government, applicable to the Costa Rican case given its low success level regarding the country’s institutionalization of a Digital Government

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTS) as a Tool for Intercultural Education. A collaborative experience in secondary education in Tlapa de Comonfort, Guerrero, Mexico

This paper discusses the collaborative experience of creating educational materials for a secondary school in Tlapa de Comonfort, Guerrero, México. In this school, students from Nahuatl, Tun savi, Me'phaa and Spanish speaking communities live and learn together. The intercultural context provides challenges for science education that we sought to address. The use of collaborative technologies in science classes has made visible the cultural diversity in the classroom, helping students and teachers recognize themselves as active agents in the construction of common knowledge and in sharing their\ud knowledge. This experience also shows the importance of ICTs as technologies of expression that reinforce individual and collective identity in intercultural contexts

Vaginal Microbiota of Healthy Pregnant Mexican Women is Constituted by Four Lactobacillus Species and Several Vaginosis-Associated Bacteria

Objective. To identify the microbiota communities in the vaginal tracts of healthy Mexican women across the pregnancy. Methods. Vaginal swabs were obtained during the prenatal visit of women from all trimesters (n = 64) of healthy pregnant women of Mexico City. DNA was isolated from each sample, and PCR-DGGE and sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments were used to identify the bacterial communities. Results. 21 different microorganisms were identified in the vaginal samples. Lactobacillus genus was present in 98% of women studied. Four lactobacilli species were identified in vaginal samples. L. acidophilus was the predominant (78%) followed by L. iners (54%), L. gasseri (20%), and L. delbrueckii (6%). 17 different microorganisms related to bacterial vaginosis conditions were identified. Ureaplasma urealyticum was the predominant (21%) followed by BVAB1 (17%) and Gemella bergeriae (7.8%). Conclusions. Lactobacillus genus predominates in the vaginal samples of Mexican pregnant women associated with different microorganisms related to bacterial vaginosis conditions

MONITOREO DE CONEXIONES TORNILLO CON SIMULINK DE MATLAB Y ARDUINO (MONITORING OF CONNECTIONS SCREW WITH MATLAB AND ARDUINO SIMULINK)

Resumen La salud estructural es un término utilizado en la evaluación y protección de las estructuras civiles o de la industria de la transformación como la automotriz, aeronáutica y aeroespacial. Con la finalidad de determinar el estado de integridad de la rigidez de estructuras con 1 grado de libertad (gdl), la cual se ve afectada por vibraciones eventuales (como los sismos) o vibraciones por fenómenos operativos permanentes (máquinas rotatorias), que se ven generalizados como vibraciones mecánicas aleatorias y no aleatorias. Como el daño puede ser catastrófico y permanente, se vuelve relevante el proponer un sistema de monitoreo de salud estructural que permita cumplir con dicha tarea a un bajo costo, en términos de la pérdida de rigidez de las conexiones tornillo a través de las mediciones de la frecuencia del sistema, que permita prevenir condiciones inseguras de operación. Palabras Clave: Rigidez estructural, Salud Estructural, Vibraciones Mecánicas. Abstract Structural health is a term used in the evaluation and protection of civil structures or the transformation industry such as automotive, aeronautical and aerospace. In order to determine the integrity state of the rigidity of structures with 1 degree of freedom (gdl), which is affected by eventual vibrations (such as earthquakes) or vibrations by permanent operating phenomena (rotary machines), which are seen generalized as random and non-random mechanical vibrations. As the damage can be catastrophic and permanent, it becomes relevant to propose a structural health monitoring system that allows this task to be accomplished at a low cost, in terms of the loss of rigidity of the screw connections through measurements of the system frequency, to prevent unsafe operating conditions. Keywords: Mechanical Vibrations, Structural Health, Structural rigidity

Stress-induced waveguides in Nd:YAG by simultaneous double-beam irradiation with femtosecond pulses

We report on the fabrication of stress-induced waveguides in Nd:YAG (neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet, Nd:Y3Al5O12) by simultaneous double-beam irradiation with femtosecond laser pulses. An interferometer was used to generate two femtosecond laser beams that, focused with certain lateral separation inside the crystal, produced two parallel damage tracks with a single scan. The propagation of the mechanical waves simultaneously created in both focal spots produced a highly symmetrical stress field that is clearly revealed in micro-luminescence maps. The optical properties of the double-beam waveguides are studied and compared to those of single-beam irradiation, showing relevant differences. The creation of more symmetric stress patterns and a slight reduction of propagation losses are explained in terms of the fact that simultaneous inscription allows for a drastic reduction in the magnitude of “incubation” effects related to the existence of pre-damaged states.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad under Projects FIS2013-44174-P and MAT2013-47395- C4-1-R. The femtosecond laser inscription was carried out in the Spanish Pulsed Laser Center (CLPU) with their Laser Service (High-Repetition-Rate laser system) and their technical assistance, in the framework of the access agreement concerning USAL staff

ctDNA analysis reveals different molecular patterns upon disease progression in patients treated with osimertinib

Background: Several clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of osimertinib in advanced nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there is significant unexplained variability in treatment outcome. Methods: Observational prospective cohort of 22 pre-treated patients with stage IV NSCLC harboring the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) p.T790M resistance mutation and who were treated with osimertinib. Three hundred and twenty-six serial plasma samples were collected and analyzed by digital PCR (dPCR) and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results: The median progression-free survival (PFS), since the start of osimertinib, was 8.9 [interquartile range (IQR): 4.6–18.0] months. The median treatment durations of sequential gefitinib + osimertinib, afatinib + osimertinib and erlotinib + osimertinib treatments were 30.1, 24.6 and 21.1 months, respectively. The p.T790M mutation was detected in 19 (86%) pre-treatment blood samples. Undetectable levels of the original EGFR-sensitizing mutation after 3 months of treatment were associated with superior PFS (HR: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.05–0.7). Likewise, re-emergence of the original EGFR mutation, alone or together with the p.T790M mutation was significantly associated with shorter PFS (HR: 8.8, 95% CI: 1.1–70.7 and HR: 5.9, 95% CI: 1.2–27.9, respectively). Blood-based monitoring revealed three molecular patterns upon progression to osimertinib: sensitizing+/T790M+/C797S+, sensitizing+/T790M+/C797S–, and sensitizing+/T790M–/ C797S–. Median time to progression in patients showing the triplet pattern (sensitizing+/T790M+/C797S+) was 12.27 months compared with 4.87 months in patients in whom only the original EGFR sensitizing was detected, and 2.17 months in patients showing the duplet pattern (sensitizing+/T790M+). Finally, we found that mutations in exon 545 of the PIK3CA gene were the most frequent alteration detected upon disease progression in patients without acquired EGFR-resistance mutations. Conclusions: Different molecular patterns identified by plasma genotyping may be of prognostic significance, suggesting that the use of liquid biopsy is a valuable approach for tumor monitoring.post-print468 K

Facilitated Anion Transport Induces Hyperpolarization of the Cell Membrane That Triggers Differentiation and Cell Death in Cancer Stem Cells

Facilitated anion transport potentially represents a powerful tool to modulate various cellular functions. However, research into the biological effects of small molecule anionophores is still at an early stage. Here we have used two potent anionophore molecules inspired in the structure of marine metabolites tambjamines to gain insight into the effect induced by these compounds at the cellular level. We show how active anionophores, capable of facilitating the transmembrane transport of chloride and bicarbonate in model phospholipid liposomes, induce acidification of the cytosol and hyperpolarization of plasma cell membranes. We demonstrate how this combined effect can be used against cancer stem cells (CSCs). Hyperpolarization of cell membrane induces cell differentiation and loss of stemness of CSCs leading to effective elimination of this cancer cell subpopulation.panishgovernment and the EU (FIS PI13/00089, FIS PI12/02838,FIS PI12/00956 and RD12/0036/0025), a grant from LaMaratóde TV3 Foundation (20132730), a grant from SEPAR(17/2014), Consejería de Educación de la Junta de Castilla yLeón (Project BU340U13), Ministerio de Economíaycompetitividad/Instituto de Salud Carlos III (SAF2014-55700-P), and ICREA Academia-201

Medicación potencialmente inapropiada en adultos mayores de un hospital del caribe colombiano

Objetivo Identificar la medicación potencialmente inapropiada en adultos mayores en un hospital del caribe colombiano. Métodos Estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal prospectivo, que incluyó a 181 adultos mayores (≥60 años de edad), internados en un hospital universitario del caribe colombiano. La medicación fue evaluada a través de la aplicación de los criterios STOPP contenidos en la herramienta STOPP/START. Resultados El promedio de edad fue de 75,14 años con DE +/- 9,09 años. La mayoría de los pacientes fueron de sexo masculino (50,30%). El 30,94 % de los pacientes estudiados presentó al menos un criterio de medicación potencialmente inapropiada. El criterio más prevalente fue el uso de benzodiazepinas dentro de los fármacos que aumentan en forma predecible el riesgo de caídas en personas mayores con un 22,00 %. La polimedicación y presencia de enfermedades crónicas fueron variables relacionadas con la presencia de medicación potencialmente inapropiada, con un OR= 5,14 (IC95% 1,15 – 22,82) y OR= 4,41 (IC95% 1,27 – 15,30), respectivamente.   Conclusión La MPI es un problema frecuente en los adultos mayores, especialmente en aquellos que presentan enfermedades crónicas y polimedicación.

Medicación potencialmente inapropiada en adultos mayores de un hospital del caribe colombiano

Objetivo Identificar la medicación potencialmente inapropiada en adultos mayores en un hospital del caribe colombiano. Métodos Estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal prospectivo, que incluyó a 181 adultos mayores (≥60 años de edad), internados en un hospital universitario del caribe colombiano. La medicación fue evaluada a través de la aplicación de los criterios STOPP contenidos en la herramienta STOPP/START. Resultados El promedio de edad fue de 75,14 años con DE +/- 9,09 años. La mayoría de los pacientes fueron de sexo masculino (50,30%). El 30,94 % de los pacientes estudiados presentó al menos un criterio de medicación potencialmente inapropiada. El criterio más prevalente fue el uso de benzodiazepinas dentro de los fármacos que aumentan en forma predecible el riesgo de caídas en personas mayores con un 22,00 %. La polimedicación y presencia de enfermedades crónicas fueron variables relacionadas con la presencia de medicación potencialmente inapropiada, con un OR= 5,14 (IC95% 1,15 – 22,82) y OR= 4,41 (IC95% 1,27 – 15,30), respectivamente.   Conclusión La MPI es un problema frecuente en los adultos mayores, especialmente en aquellos que presentan enfermedades crónicas y polimedicación.

TNF-α mediated upregulation of Na1.7 currents in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons is independent of CRMP2 SUMOylation

Clinical and preclinical studies have shown that patients with Diabetic Neuropathy Pain (DNP) present with increased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) serum concentration, whereas studies with diabetic animals have shown that TNF-α induces an increase in NaV1.7 sodium channel expression. This is expected to result in sensitization of nociceptor neuron terminals, and therefore the development of DNP. For further study of this mechanism, dissociated dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were exposed to TNF-α for 6 h, at a concentration equivalent to that measured in STZ-induced diabetic rats that developed hyperalgesia. Tetrodotoxin sensitive (TTXs), resistant (TTXr) and total sodium current was studied in these DRG neurons. Total sodium current was also studied in DRG neurons expressing the collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) SUMO-incompetent mutant protein (CRMP2-K374A), which causes a significant reduction in NaV1.7 membrane cell expression levels. Our results show that TNF-α exposure increased the density of the total, TTXs and TTXr sodium current in DRG neurons. Furthermore, TNF-α shifted the steady state activation and inactivation curves of the total and TTXs sodium current. DRG neurons expressing the CRMP2-K374A mutant also exhibited total sodium current increases after exposure to TNF-α, indicating that these effects were independent of SUMOylation of CRMP2. In conclusion, TNF-α sensitizes DRG neurons via augmentation of whole cell sodium current. This may underlie the pronociceptive effects of TNF-α and suggests a molecular mechanism responsible for pain hypersensitivity in diabetic neuropathy patients.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]